HomeMy WebLinkAboutInterlocal Agreements - 2022.10.20 - 38054David T. Woodward (Feb 13, 2023 11:34 EST)Feb 13, 2023
JoAnn Stringfellow (Feb 13, 2023 11:35 EST)Feb 13, 2023
Micheal Lohmeier (Feb 13, 2023 12:18 EST)
Micheal Lohmeier Feb 13, 2023
City of Pleasant Ridge
23925 Woodward Avenue
Pleasant Ridge, Michigan 48069
City Commission Meeting
December 13, 2022
Agenda
Honorable Mayor, City Commissioners and Residents: This shall serve as your official notification
of the Public Hearing and Regular City Commission Meeting to be held Tuesday, December 13,
2022, at 7:30pm, in the City Commission Chambers, Pleasant Ridge City Hall, 23925 Woodward
Avenue, Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069. The following items are on the Agenda for your consideration:
PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING – 7:30 P.M.
1. Meeting Called to Order.
2. Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Roll Call.
4. PUBLIC DISCUSSION – items not on the Agenda.
5. Governmental Reports.
6. City Commission Liaison Reports.
• Commissioner Budnik – Recreation Commission.
• Commissioner Lenko – Ferndale Public Schools.
• Commissioner Perry – Planning/DDA.
• Commissioner Schmier – Historical Commission.
7. Consent Agenda.
All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the City Commission, will be enacted
by one motion and approved by a roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a
City Commissioner or visitor so requests, in which event, the item will be removed from the consent agenda
and considered as the last item of business.
a. Minutes of the Regular City Commission Meeting held Tuesday, November 15,
2022.
b. Monthly Disbursement Report.
c. Agreement between the City of Pleasant Ridge and the County of Oakland
appointing Michael R Lohmeier as the City’s designated assessor.
d. Resolution regarding PA 152.
e. Tentative Annual Meeting Schedule for the following Commissions:
a. City Commission.
b. Historical Commission.
c. Planning Commission/Downtown Development Authority.
d. Recreation Commission.
8. An Ordinance to amend Chapter 82, Zoning, of the Pleasant Ridge City Code,
Section 82-3 – Definitions; Section 82-164 – Yard and Bulk Requirements; Section 82-
197 – Special Land Use; and the addition of a new Section 82-208 – Access
Management.
a. PUBLIC HEARING – Solicitation of public comments on an Ordinance to amend
Chapter 82, Zoning, of the Pleasant Ridge City Code, Section 82 -3 – Definitions;
Section 82-164 – Yard and Bulk Requirements; Section 82-197 – Special Land Use;
and the addition of a new Section 82-208 – Access Management.
b. Ordinance to amend Chapter 82, Zoning, of the Pleasant Ridge City Code, Section
82-3 – Definitions; Section 82-164 – Yard and Bulk Requirements; Section 82-197 –
Special Land Use; and the addition of a new Section 82-208 – Access Management.
9. NOXX Marijuana License Application Discussion.
10. City Manager’s Report.
11. Other Business.
12. Adjournment.
In the spirit of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals with a disability should feel
free to contact the City at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting, if requesting
accommodations. If you have any ADA questions, please call the Clerk's Office (248) 541-2901.
City of Pleasant Ridge
23925 Woodward Avenue
Pleasant Ridge, Michigan 48069
City Commission Meeting
December 13, 2022
Having been duly publicized, Mayor Scott called the meeting to order 7:30pm
Present: Commissioners Lenko, Perry, Schmier, Mayor Scott.
Also Present: City Manager Breuckman, City Attorney Need, City Clerk Allison.
Absent: Commissioner Budnik.
Public Discussion
Ted Zachary – 68 Devonshire, information related to the Environmental Committee, encouraging
donations to Ridge Resale or Buy Nothing Ferndale. Presented the butternut squash he grew with
the seeds he distributed to the City Commission at the May 2022 meeting.
Deb Hemming – Hunting Woods Library Director, library will be putting out a community survey,
asking for input on services and programs. Discussed upcoming programs and new staff that has
been hired.
Helena Scott – Michigan State Representative, reintroduced herself to the Commission and public
since being elected in November 2022, will officially be the City’s state representative January 1,
2023. Introduced Greg Humphreys her Chief of Staff.
Governmental Reports
Chief Kevin Nowak, Pleasant Ridge Police Department gave an update regarding the Ferndale Fire
Department regarding winter fire safety and the Pleasant Ridge Police Department regarding
package delivery and storage. Identity theft safety information.
Shawnie Stamper, Recreation Director, updates regarding programs related to the Recreation
Department. PR Foundation and Woman’s Club scholarships available. Swim team, summer camp
and soccer sign up. Front desk holiday hours.
City Commission Liaison Reports
Commissioner Lenko – Ferndale Public Schools – School board meetings on YouTube, sign up for
the eblast. Proposed millage/bond vote scheduled for May 2023, has been postponed.
Information on the bond can be found at www.ferndaleschools.org/district/2023-bond.
Commissioner Perry – Planning/DDA – next meeting will be January 23, 2023. Vacancies on
Planning Commission/DDA will be filled in March 2023. Applications are available on the City’s
website or at City Hall.
Commissioner Schmier – Historical Commission - Home and Garden Tour scheduled for
September, preparations are ongoing. There will be three vacancies to be filled in March 2023.
Consent Agenda
22-3590
Motion by Commissioner Schmier, seconded by Commissioner Perry that the consent agenda be
approved.
Adopted: Yeas: Commissioners Schmier, Perry, Lenko, Mayor Scott.
Nays: None.
Zoning Ordinance Public Hearing and Amendments
Manager Breuckman gave an overview of the proposed zoning ordinance amendments. The City
Commission passed a 6-month moratorium on drive-through uses at their August 9 meeting and
directed the Planning Commission to consider a Zoning Ordinance amendment to prohibit future
drive-through uses along Woodward. The moratorium will expire in February. The proposed
amendment addresses access management standards, drive through uses, and front setback
requirements along Woodward. It also includes an amendment to establish minimum open space
requirements in one and two-family residential districts. The Planning Commission recommends
approval of the proposed ordinance.
Access Management
• Section 82-3 amended to add a new definition of drive through.
• Section 82-197(b)(1) amended to eliminate items d, e, and f. Those items were design
standards for driveways onto Woodward, which will no longer be allowed if the access manage ment
standards are adopted.
• Section 82-208 Access Management added. The access management standards allow current
driveways to remain unless a building is expanded or the use of a building changes, at which time
driveway accesses must be eliminated. Drive through uses are also prohibited by the proposed
amendment.
This section includes a provision that allows the Planning Commission to modify the access
management standards to allow for a vehicle access from Woodward to be constructed or to remain
if it finds it is necessary to do so.
Setback and Lot Coverage Requirements – RO and C Districts
Reducing the front setback and eliminating maximum lot coverage requirements provides greater
design flexibility to match existing character and to provide parking and service areas at the rear of
the property. The three-foot setback is intended to provide a door zone along the sidewalk, and to
provide some space for landscaping or other amenities without creating a crowded feeling along the
sidewalk.
• Section 82-164, Yard and Bulk Requirements amended to
o Reduce front setback requirements from 10 feet to 3 feet in the C district, from 20
feet to 3 feet in the RO district, and to reduce the side yard setback in the RO district
to 0 feet. There are existing zero-lot-line buildings in both the C and RO districts, so
the proposed amendment is consistent with the existing character of the Woodward
business district.
o Footnote 3 is proposed to be amended to require a 10-foot rear yard setback in the
RO district where the rear property line abuts a public alley. This is consistent with
the 10-foot rear yard setback requirement in the C district along Woodward and will
create a consistent set of requirements for all districts along Woodward.
o Maximum lot coverage requirement is proposed to be eliminated in the RO and C
districts. Lot coverage is effectively regulated by setback requirements and other
provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, meaning that there is no need to also have a
specific lot coverage limit.
Minimum Open Space Requirements
Minimum open space requirements are proposed to be added in single and two-family residential
districts. We currently have a maximum lot coverage standard that applies to buildings and any
structures that are three feet or more above grade, but we have no standard that would prevent
someone from paving their entire yard.
The proposed minimum open space requirements have been calibrated to existing open space
percentages for each zoning district. There are 15 properties in the City (about 1%) that would not
meet the proposed minimum open space requirement. Those properties would be existing
nonconforming properties that could remain as-is.
• Section 82-3, Definitions amended to add a definition for “Open Space.”
• Section 82-164, Yard and Bulk Requirements is amended to add minimum open space
requirements in the following districts:
o R-1A: 50%
o R-1B: 45%
o R-1C: 35%
o R-1D: 25%
o R-2: 25%
Mayor Scott opened the public hearing at 8:01pm.
John Wilk, 23690 Woodward, disagrees with the proposed ordinance, each property needs to be
taken on its own merit and needs of the business. Agreed that drive-throughs should continue to be
banned. However, the proposed ordinance prohibits businesses from improving if they lose the
Woodward driveway access. Feels City Commission will have site plan approval and can determine
the needs of driveways on a case-by-case basis and can approve if the business requires this access.
Feels the proposed ordinance is governmental overreach.
George Lenko, 32 Oakland Park Blvd, spoke in support of Mr. Wilk, and is a current client of
Ameriprise. Funeral home business needs the additional driveway to Woodward Avenue. Bike
lanes are proposed and will move from Woodward to the alleys behind the businesses along
northbound Woodward, if a funeral procession went through alleys that would not make sense to
have the bike lanes in the same area. He feels this would compel Mr. Wilk to sell his business and
that building to become something else, such as condos. Exceptions are sited in the proposed
ordinance, but to stay current with trends business need to improve and invest – and not lose the
current Woodward Avenue access. Business with low drives through volume businesses should not
be impacted by the proposed ordinance.
Scott Galloway, 145 Maplefield, occasional biker along Woodward Avenue, he believes there is a
benefit to the zoning requirement for elimination of driveways along Woodward Avenue. Proposed
ordinance protects current owners and would only effect new owners on a case-by-case basis.
Changes in the proposed ordinance are thoughtfully crafted, and may not effect businesses. Feels
Pleasant Ridge should have a complete street mindset, since we have adopted the complete streets
manual.
Sheri Sadler, 3 Woodward Heights, feels that if Woodward Avenue driveways are shut down or
eliminated, more traffic will use the alleys and then turn down residential streets as a cut through.
Why was their a traffic study done for Woodward Heights just to close driveways on Woodward and
push traffic down her street. The new proposed marijuana business does not have entrance to
Woodward Avenue and there will be more traffic in front of her property on Woodward Heights
and on Oakridge in Ferndale.
Breuckman indicated the Planning Commission can modify the standards for any proposed use on
Woodward Avenue, the compliance language trigger a change to Woodward Avenue access, would
be building a new structure or enlarging an existing building. There could be additional standards
added to the proposed business by the City Commission before adoption.
With no further comments or discussion, Mayor Scott closed the public hearing at 8:12pm
22-3591
Motion by Commissioner Lenko, seconded by Commissioner Schmier that the Ordinance to amend
Chapter 82, Zoning, of the Pleasant Ridge City Code, Section 82-3 – Definitions; Section 82-164 –
Yard and Bulk Requirements; Section 82-197 – Special Land Use; and the addition of a new Section
82-208 – Access Management., be approved with the elimination of subsection 82-208 (b)(2) and
adding Main Street along with Woodward Avenue to Section 82-208.
Adopted: Yeas: Commissioners Lenko, Schmier, Perry, Mayor Scott.
Nays: None.
NOXX Marijuana License Application Discussion
Breuckman indicated Skymint has withdrawn their application for a marijuana license after City
Commission approval and will not be moving forward with their retail storefront operation along
Woodward Avenue. Noxx/Rapid Fish 2 have applied for a license with close to the same
application. A presentation by Noxx representatives Benjamin Joffe, Travis Harrison and Julia
Colosimo. Harrison gave an overview of the business model, proposed façade plan and other retail
Michigan locations. Discussion held with Noxx representatives and the City Commission regarding
the issues with the previous application, and how those issues would potentially be resolved and
potential issues with the proposed Noxx logo. Public comments by Joe Papalian, 6 Woodward
Heights (Pleasant Ridge) and 131/137 E Oakridge (Ferndale), regarding alley traffic, proposed bike
paths through the alley, parking onsite for the business, believes Noxx will need an additional license
from the City of Ferndale and the proximity of this business located in the City of Pleasant Ridge
and his City of Ferndale rental property. Brian Bennett, 131 E Oakridge, Ferndale, believes Noxx
could be a benefit to the community. Would like the Commission to discontinue the use of the
work marijuana and begin to use the word cannabis. Believes marijuana is a racist term. Believes
Noxx to be a good representative of the cannabis culture in our community.
City Manager’s Report
Fall leaf collection is complete. Update on the Kensington Water Main replacement project.
With no further business or discussion, Mayor Scott adjourned the meeting at 9:49pm.
_________________________________
Mayor Bret Scott
__________________________________
Amy M. Allison, City Clerk
October 20, 2022
RESOLUTION #2022-2106 _ 22-350
Sponsored By: Gwen Markham
Equalization - Interlocal Agreement Designating Micheal Lohmeier as the Assessor for
Oakland County
Chairperson and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS pursuant to Public Act 660 of 2018, each county is required to notify the State Tax
Commission, no later than December 31, 2020, of the individual that will serve as the County’s
Designated Assessor; and
WHEREAS the Designated Assessor is part of a process to ensure that local units of government are
in compliance with statutory provisions of the Audit of Minimum Assessing Requirements; and
WHEREAS the Designated Assessor is the individual designated by an Interlocal Agreement
executed between the County Board of Commissioners and a majority of the assessing districts
(cities and townships) within the county, subject to final approval of the State Tax Commission; and
WHEREAS the Designated Assessor serves as the assessor of record and assumes all duties and
responsibilities as the assessor of record for an assessing district that is determined to be non-
compliant with an audit; and
WHEREAS each county must also provide the State Tax Commission with the interlocal agreement
executed by the County Board of Commissioners, a majority of the assessing districts within the
county, and the proposed Designated Assessor for the county; and
WHEREAS the interlocal agreement must provide enough detail regarding the assessment
responsibilities for the Designated Assessor including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Information related to the scope of services being provided by the Designated Assessor,
including preparation of assessment rolls, timeline for delivery of documents and execution of
forms, attendance at Boards of Review meetings, duties and responsibilities related to property
tax appeals, both Small Claims and Entire Tribunal, filed with the Michigan Tax Tribunal,
responsibility to meet with local unit officials, and obligations of local unit assessing staff
members,
2. Duties and responsibilities for each local unit within the county, including providing the
Designated Assessor with reasonable access to records, documents and information, and
3. Details relating to cost and compensation for overseeing and administering the annual
assessment and operating the assessing office, including payment terms and cost
reimbursement; and
WHEREAS an Interlocal Agreement was previously entered into between Oakland County and the
participating Assessing Districts under the former Oakland County Equalization Director; and
WHEREAS Oakland County has a new Oakland County Equalization Director, Micheal Lohmeier,
and as a result, a new Interlocal Agreement is required with the Assessing Districts within the County
that approve the Agreement; and
WHEREAS Oakland County Corporation Counsel is developing the Designated Assessor Interlocal
Agreement to be entered into with any and all Assessing Districts within the County that approve the
Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approves
designating Oakland County Equalization Director Micheal Lohmeier, who is an individual qualified
and certified by the State Tax Commission as a Michigan Master Assessing Officer, to be the
Designated Assessor for Oakland County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners approves and authorizes the
Chairperson of Board to execute the required Interlocal Agreement on behalf of Oakland County upon
final review and approval by Corporation Counsel.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Gwen Markham.
Date: October 21, 2022
David Woodward, Commissioner
Date: October 21, 2022
David Coulter, Oakland County Executive
Date: October 26, 2022
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2022-10-12 Finance - Recommend to Board
2022-10-20 Full Board - Adopted
VOTE TRACKING
Motioned by Commissioner Michael Gingell seconded by Commissioner Kristen Nelson to adopt the
attached Interlocal Agreement: Designating Micheal Lohmeier as the Assessor for Oakland County.
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Gingell, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Eileen
Kowall, Christine Long, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Thomas Kuhn, Chuck
Moss, Marcia Gershenson, William Miller III, Yolanda Smith Charles, Penny Luebs, Janet Jackson,
Gary McGillivray, Robert Hoffman, Adam Kochenderfer (20)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
Passed
ATTACHMENTS
1. OC Designated Assessor Interlocal Agreement 9.16.22
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true
and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on
October 20, 2022, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at
Pontiac, Michigan on Thursday, October 20, 2022.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk / Register of Deeds
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR OAKLAND COUNTY TO APPROVE
THE DESIGNATED ASSESSOR FOR THE PERIOD January 1, 2023
THROUGH December 31, 2027
Public Act 660 of 2018 requires a county to have a Designated Assessor on file with the State Tax
Commission as of December 31, 2020.On December 29, 2020, Oakland County met this
requirement, having a majority of the Assessing Districts in favor of the Equalization Officer
serving as its Designated Assessor. On August 4, 2022, Oakland County Commissioners voted to
retain Micheal R Lohmeier, MMAO as its new Equalization Officer for its Equalization Division,
and as a result, the interlocal agreements were required to be revised. A majority of the Assessing
Districts are in favor of the Equalization Officer serving as its Designated Assessor.
The following interlocal agreement (hereinafter “Agreement”) has been executed by the Board of
Commissioners for Oakland County, a majority of the Assessing Districts in Oakland County, and
the individual put forth as the proposed Designated Assessor. Oakland County and the Assessing
Districts are collectively referred to throughout this Agreement as the “Parties.”
RECITALS WHEREAS, The Assessing Districts are Municipal Corporations (cities and townships) located
within the County of Oakland, in the State of Michigan;
WHEREAS, The Michigan Constitution of 1963, Article 7, Section 28 permits a political
subdivision to exercise jointly with any other political subdivision any power, privilege
or authority which such political subdivisions share in common with each other and
which each might exercise separately;
WHEREAS, The Urban Cooperation Act of 1967, being MCL 124.505 et seq, and the
Intergovernmental Transfer of Functions and Responsibilities Act, give effect to the
Constitutional provision by providing that public agencies may enter into interlocal
agreements to carry out their respective functions, powers and authority;
WHEREAS, P.A. 660 of 2018 requires each County to enter into an Agreement that designates
the individual who will serve as the County’s Designated Assessor. That interlocal
agreement must be approved by the County Board of Commissioners and a majority of
the Assessing Districts in the County.
WHEREAS, P.A. 660 of 2018 mandates that the Designated Assessor shall be an advanced
assessing officer or a master assessing officer.
NOW, THEREFORE, based on the foregoing Recitals, and in consideration of the terms of this
Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:
DESIGNATED ASSESSOR – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Page 2 of 9
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Oakland County names MICHEAL R. LOHMEIER (R-6101), in his official capacity as the
Equalization Officer for Oakland County, as the Designated Assessor for all of the Assessing
Districts within Oakland County 1. Included as an addendum to this Agreement are the Oakland
County SEV totals by class, including special act values, those properties deemed unique or
complex by a local Assessing District, and a listing of the total number of parcels, by classification,
including special act rolls, within each Assessing District.
If the State Tax Commission (STC) invokes the Designated Assessor process for any Assessing
District in Oakland County, the Parties agree that the Designated Assessor will perform the duties
associated with being the Assessor of Record for an Assessing District at the Oakland County
Equalization Division offices in the City of Pontiac, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, unless
the duties of the Designated Assessor require on-site visits to the Assessing District’s location.
QUALIFICATIONS OF DESIGNATED ASSESSOR
Micheal R. Lohmeier has been certified as a Michigan Master Assessing Officer since 2012. In his
capacity as the Oakland County Equalization Officer, he is responsible for managing the Oakland
County Equalization Division. Along with its statutory duties, the Equalization Division currently
acts as the contracted Assessor of Record for thirty of the fifty-two Assessing Districts in Oakland
County.
Micheal R. Lohmeier has disclosed any conflicts of interest involving the proposed Designated
Assessor, the County, or any Assessing District, if applicable: [NONE].
It is understood that Micheal R. Lohmeier will, during the length of this agreement, maintain his
assessor certification in good standing with the State Tax Commission and if required to serve as
the Designated Assessor for an Assessing District in Oakland County shall act as the Assessor of
Record for that Assessing District. When acting as the Assessor of Record for an Assessing
District, the Designated Assessor shall meet all the requirements as set forth by the State Tax
Commission’s Supervising Preparation of the Assessment Roll approved by the State Tax
Commission August 21, 2018.
Any additional requirements that are agreed to by the Designated Assessor, the County and the
Assessing Districts may not conflict with the State Tax Commission’s Supervising Preparation of
the Rolls.
1 Oakland County contains 52 Assessing Districts (cities and townships), two of which (City of
Fenton and City of Northville) are not considered to be “in” Oakland County for purposes of MCL
211.10g as the largest share of their state equalized value is located in another county.
A list of the remaining 50 Assessing Districts can be found here:
https://www.oakgov.com/mgtbud/equal/Pages/assessing-offices.aspx
DESIGNATED ASSESSOR – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Page 3 of 9
1.0 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DESIGNATED ASSESSOR
1.1 The Designated Assessor, while serving as the Assessor of Record for an Assessing District
within Oakland County, shall satisfy all requirements contained State Tax Commission’s
Supervising Preparation of the Assessment Roll approved by the State Tax Commission
August 21, 2018.
1.2 Within 30 (thirty) days of being appointed as the Assessor of Record for the Assessing
District by the STC or the voluntary election by the Assessing District to utilize the
Designated Assessor, the Designated Assessor shall prepare and transmit to the Assessing
District’s supervisor, manager, or chief executive a detailed proposal, including a schedule
for delivery of documents, to correct deficiencies identified by the STC’s audit.
1.3 The Parties agree that the Designated Assessor, while serving as the Assessor of Record
for an Assessing District, shall do the following things, as applicable to bring the Assessing
District into compliance with the Audit of Minimum Assessing Requirements:
1.3.1 Make assessments of real and personal property within the Assessing District;
1.3.2 Appraise all property, process all real and personal property description changes,
and prepare the assessment roll for real and personal property in the Assessing
District;
1.3.3 Attend (or have a designee attend) all March, July, and December Board of Review
meetings;
1.3.4 Be available for consultation on all Michigan Tax Tribunal real and personal
property and special assessment appeals, and assist the Assessing District in the
preparation of both the oral and written defense of appeals;
1.3.5 Prepare all necessary reports for review by the supervisor, manager, chief
executive, board, or council of the Assessing District, as applicable;
1.3.6 Performs any other duties required under PA 660 of 2018.
1.4 For an Assessing District employing assessing staff other than the Assessor of Record,
assessing staff will conduct their duties as under the direction and supervision of the
Designated Assessor, subject to any limitations as may be agreed by the applicable
Assessing District and the Designated Assessor. However, no members of said assessing
staff will become employees or independent contractors of Oakland County.
1.5 While not acting in the capacity as the Designated Assessor for an Assessing District, the
Designated Assessor will have the following duties and responsibilities for Oakland
County and the Assessing Districts within Oakland County: Equalization Officer.
1.6 The parties understand and agree that the duties outlined in this Agreement only apply if
and when the Designated Assessor is required, or the Assessing District chooses to request
the Designated Assessor, to take over the assessing duties for an Assessing District
DESIGNATED ASSESSOR – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Page 4 of 9
pursuant to the terms of PA 660 of 2018. This Agreement will have no effect on any pre-
existing agreements that the parties may have, under which Oakland County performs
contracted assessing services for the Assessing District.
2.0 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ASSESSING DISTRICTS
2.1 Any Assessing District in Oakland County that is required to utilize the services of the
Designated Assessor will, during the period the Assessing District is required to or chooses
to utilize the services of the Designated Assessor, do the following:
2.1.1 Provide the Designated Assessor with reasonable access to records, documents,
databases and information in order to allow the Designated Assessor to serve as the
Assessor of Record for the Assessing District and satisfy all requirements
Supervising Preparation of the Assessment Roll approved by the State Tax
Commission August 21, 2018.
2.1.2 Furnish the Designated Assessor with any applicable policies and procedures that
the Designated Assessor may be subject to during the period of time the Designated
Assessor serves as the Assessing District’s Assessor of Record.
2.1.3 Provide, while the Designated Assessor or his designee is physically working on
behalf of the Assessing District and within the geographical boundaries of the
Assessing District, any technology, equipment, and workspace necessary for the
Designated Assessor or his designee to carry out their requirements under this
Agreement.
2.2 The Assessing District shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable
for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way
related to any Assessing District tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other
Assessing District legal obligation under any applicable State Property Tax Laws. The
Assessing District shall employ and retain its own legal representation, as necessary, to
defend any such claim or challenge before the State Tax Tribunal or any other court or
review body.
2.3 Except for those express statutory and/or regulatory obligations incumbent only upon
licensed Equalization Division Personnel (i.e., State Licensed and Certified Real and/or
Personal Property Tax Assessors) to defend property tax appraisals and assessments that
they either performed, or were otherwise performed under their supervision, before the
Michigan Tax Tribunal, the Parties agree that no other County employees, including any
County attorneys shall be authorized, required and/or otherwise obligated under this
Agreement or pursuant to any other agreement between the Parties to provide any legal
representation to or for the Assessing District and/or otherwise defend, challenge, contest,
appeal, or argue on behalf of the Assessing District before the Michigan Tax Tribunal or
any other review body or court except to the extent the matters have been traditionally and
previously handled by assessing staff, such as, but not limited to, Michigan Tax Tribunal
small claims division hearings and matters before the State Tax Commission.
DESIGNATED ASSESSOR – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Page 5 of 9
2.4 The Assessing District shall, at all times and under all circumstances, remain solely liable
for any and all costs, legal obligations, and/or civil liabilities associated with or in any way
related to any tax appraisal or assessment functions or any other legal obligation. The
Assessing District agrees that under no circumstances shall the County or the Designated
Assessor be responsible for any costs, obligations, and/or civil liabilities or any
responsibility under any State Property Tax Law.
3.0 DESIGNATED ASSESSOR COMPENSATION
3.1 The Designated Assessor may charge an Assessing District that is required to contract with
the Designated Assessor and that Assessing District shall pay for the reasonable costs
incurred by the Designated Assessor in serving as the Assessing District’s Assessor of
Record, including, but not limited to, the costs of overseeing and administering the annual
assessment, preparing and defending the assessment roll, and operating the assessing
office.
3.2 If the Designated Assessor is required to serve as the Assessor of Record for an Assessing
District within Oakland County, the parties understand and agree that he will be serving in
his official capacity as the Oakland County Equalization Officer. Therefore, an Assessing
District will not make any direct payments to the Designated Assessor. Instead, the
Assessing District will be responsible for paying a fee to Oakland County which fee is
intended to compensate Oakland County for the reasonable costs incurred by the
Designated Assessor and his staff. Oakland County will charge the Assessing District a fee
equal to the average rate per parcel that it charges those districts for whom it already
performs contracted assessing services, as of the date the Designated Assessor is required
to serve as the Assessor of Record. The parties agree that should the standard fee not
reasonably reflect the actual cost of the provision of the services required that the standard
fee will be modified to a higher or lower fee, and so the fee is reasonable. The modification
of the standard fee will be dependent upon the complexity of the work to be performed
by the Designated Assessor, the number of staff needed to assist in completing the work
and whether the Assessing District provides its own staff to assist the Designated Assessor.
The Assessing District is not required to pay a retainer fee. In the event that the Designated
Assessor is acting on behalf of an Assessing District for which Oakland County
Equalization Department is currently contracted with to provide assessing services, the
Designated Assessor will provide its Designated Assessor services at no additional cost to
said Assessing District.
3.3 If the Assessing District fails, for any reason, to pay the County any monies when and as
due under this Contract, the Assessing District agrees that unless expressly prohibited by
law, the County or the County Treasurer, at their sole option, shall be entitled to a setoff
from any other Assessing District funds that are in the County’s possession for any reason.
Funds include but are not limited to the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund (“DTRF”). Any
DESIGNATED ASSESSOR – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Page 6 of 9
setoff or retention of funds by the County shall be deemed a voluntary assignment of the
amount by the Assessing District to the County. The Assessing District waives any claims
against the County or its Officials for any acts related specifically to the County’s offsetting
or retaining such amounts. This paragraph shall not limit the Assessing District’s legal
right to dispute whether the underlying amount retained by the County was actually due
and owing under this Agreement.
3.4 If the County chooses not to exercise its right to setoff or if any setoff is insufficient to
fully pay the County any amounts due and owing the County under this Contract, the
County shall have the right to charge up to the then-maximum legal interest on any unpaid
amount. Interest charges shall be in addition to any other amounts due to the County under
this Agreement. Interest charges shall be calculated using the daily unpaid balance method
and accumulate until all outstanding amounts and accumulated interest are fully paid.
3.5 Nothing in this Section shall operate to limit the County’s right to pursue or exercise any
other legal rights or remedies under this Contract against the Assessing District to secure
reimbursement of amounts due the County under this Agreement. The remedies in this
Section shall be available to the County on an ongoing and successive basis if Assessing
District at any time becomes delinquent in its payment. Notwithstanding any other term
and condition in this Contract, if the County pursues any legal action in any court to secure
its payment under this Contract, the Assessing District agrees to pay all costs and expenses,
including attorney’s fees and court costs, incurred by the County in the collection of any
amount owed by the Assessing District.
4.0 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall become effective when it is executed by the Oakland County Board
of Commissioners, Micheal R. Lohmeier, and the governing bodies of a majority of the
Assessing Districts within Oakland County, and shall expire on December 31, 2027. The
terms and conditions in Section 3.0 (Compensation) shall survive and continue in full force
beyond the termination of this Agreement if the Assessing District owes money to the
County under this Agreement.
5.0 DESIGNATED ASSESSOR EMPLOYMENT STATUS
It is understood by the parties that Micheal R. Lohmeier is appointed as the Designated
Assessor based on his employment status as Oakland County Equalization Officer and that
if his employment status materially changes, the parties will request that the State Tax
Commission designate and approve an interim Designated Assessor until the parties are
able to amend this Agreement.
6.0 ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement sets forth all covenants, promises, agreements, conditions and
understandings between the parties and there are no covenants, promises, agreements,
conditions, or understandings, either oral or written, between the Parties other than are set
forth in this Agreement.
DESIGNATED ASSESSOR – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Page 7 of 9
7.0 AMENDMENTS
This Agreement cannot be modified unless reduced to writing and signed by both Parties.
8.0 SEVERABILITY
If a court of competent jurisdiction finds a term or condition of this Agreement to be illegal
or invalid, then the term or condition shall be deemed severed from this Agreement. All
other terms or conditions shall remain in full force and effect.
9.0 GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed, interpreted, and enforced by the laws of the State of
Michigan.
10.0 COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, including facsimile copies,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one
instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ________________________________________ [name and title of
assessing district official] hereby acknowledges that he/she has been authorized by a resolution of
the _______________________________________ [name of assessing district], a certified
copy of which is attached, to execute this Agreement on behalf of Public Body and hereby accepts
and binds Public Body to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
[Signatures contained on following page]
DESIGNATED ASSESSOR – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Page 8 of 9
EXECUTED: ____________________________________ DATE: _______________
Name and Title:
WITNESSED: ___________________________________ DATE: _______________
Name and Title:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, David Woodward, Chairperson, Oakland County Board of
Commissioners, hereby acknowledges that he has been authorized by a resolution of the Oakland
County Board of Commissioners to execute this Agreement on behalf of Oakland County, and
hereby accepts and binds Oakland County to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
EXECUTED: ____________________________________ DATE: _______________
David Woodward, Chairperson
Oakland County Board of Commissioners
WITNESSED: ___________________________________ DATE: _______________
Name and Title:
MICHEAL R. LOHMEIER, in his official capacity as Equalization Officer for Oakland County,
hereby accepts the role of Designated Assessor as outlined in this Agreement.
EXECUTED: ____________________________________ DATE: _______________
Micheal R. Lohmeier
Oakland County Equalization Officer
DESIGNATED ASSESSOR – INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Page 9 of 9
ADDENDUM – SEV TOTALS
OAKLAND COUNTY SEV TOTALS BY
CLASS
Class
Parcel
Counts
State Equalized
Values
Agricultural
392
87,150,370
Commercial
20,907
14,614,165,290
Industrial
4,441
2,896,770,040
Residential
448,068
68,274,369,769
Personal
Property
52,372
3,863,299,665
Special Acts
650 507,403,698
March 14, 2023
Michigan Department of State
Office of the Great Seal
Richard H. Austin Building, 1st Floor
430 W. Allegan
Lansing, MI 48918
Dear Office of the Great Seal:
On October 20, 2022 the Board of Commissioners for Oakland County entered into an agreement per MR #22350 –
Equalization – Interlocal Agreement Designating Michael Lohmeier as the Assessor for Oakland County
As required by Urban Cooperation Act 7 of 1967 - MCL 124.510(4), a copy of the signed agreement with the County of
Oakland and the City of Pleasant Ridge, and the authorizing Board of Commissioners Resolution are enclosed for filing by
your office.
Send confirmation of receipt of this a greement to:
Mr. Joseph Rozell, Director of Elections
Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds
County Service Center, Building #14 East
1200 N. Telegraph Rd.
Pontiac, MI 48341
(Please include our Miscellaneous Resolution number on the confirmation of receipt letter for filing purposes.)
Contact our office at (248) 858-0564 if you have any questions regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
COUNTY OF OAKLAND
Joseph J. Rozell, CERA
Director of Elections
Cc: Donna Dyer, Corporation Counsel, Oakland County
Erika Munoz-Flores, Corporation Counsel, Oakland County
Amy Allison, Clerk, City of Pleasant Ridge
Kimberly Hampton, Technical Specialist, Equalization Division
Enclosures